Cutting mechanism for automatic winding machines



April 30, 1968 R. JENNY 3,380,676

CUTTING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC WINDING MACHINES Filed Aug. 3, 1965 FIG. I

ELECTROMAGNET l3, FIGS. 2 G 3.

FEELER ACTUATES CUTTER 8.

RUDOLF JENNY ATTORNEYS,

INVENTOR United States Patent 3,380,676 CUTTING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC WINDING MACHINES Rudolf Jenny, Thalwil, Switzerland, assignor to Maschinenfabrik Schweiter AG., Horgen, Switzerland, a corporation of Switzerland Filed Aug. 2, 1965, Ser. No. 476,265 Claims priority, application Switzerland, Aug. 5, 1964, 10,226/ 64 11 Claims. (Cl. 242-19) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention has reference to an improved cutting mechanism for automatic winding machines or winders.

In winding machines, particularly in automatic winders, disturbances frequently appear in that upon yarn rupture or primarily upon cutting of the yarn by the yarn cleaner the yarn loses the guiding action exerted upon it by the yarn guide or the grooved drum due to letting-up of the yarn tension and, therefore, the relatively long free yarn end becomes caught at the front sides or, in fact, at the ends of the body of the wind-up spool or bobbin. In such situations, the automatic yarn finders cannot seize the yarn end at the bobbin and deliver such to the knotting apparatus. Consequently, it is necessary to manually remove the disturbance. The mentioned relatively long free yarn end is generally attributable to the fact that the yarn cutting knife is usually mounted at the yarn cleaner and such, due to lateral deviation of the yarn, must be located -a certain distance from the wind-up bobbin. Additionally, the lateral sliding-ofi of the free yarn end is enhanced since cutting of the yarn can take place at the ends of the bobbin.

Now, the present invention has for one of its primary objects to provide an improved construction of cutting mechanism for winders which effectively overcomes such disadvantages.

.Another considerable object of this invention pertain-s toan improved construction of cutter mechanism for winders which causes the yarn end at the wind-up side to align substantially centrally of the wind-up bobbin, specifically in a region where it can be seized by a yarn finder.

Still another very important object of the present invention is concerned with providing an improved cutter mechanism for winders which cuts off long yarn ends at the wind-up side of a vwnding station to thereby reduce the chances of such yarn end becoming entangled at the body of the wind-up bobbin.

In order to implement these and still further objects the present invention contemplates providing improved cutter mechanism wherein a cutting element arranged in the neighborhood of the wind-up bobbin cooperates with a normally ineffectual yarn catcher or seizing element disposed in a vertical plane extending through substantially the central region of the wind-up bobbin. Moreover, a yarn feeler cooperates with the yarn catcher ele- 3,380,676 Patented Apr. 30, 1968 ment and renders such effectual upon the appearance of a yarn fault prior to operation of the cutting element. Hence, when the yarn is cut the resulting relatively short yarn end is disposed at the central region of the wind-up bobbin and can be readily seized by the automatic yarn finder.

Other features, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following detailed'description and drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 schematically illustrates a preferred embodiment of cutter mechanism arranged at a winding station of a winding machine;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged view showing details of the yarncutting knife; and

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the cutting knife of FIGURE 2 in a different operational position.

Describing now the drawing it will be understood that the winding station or location W schematically depicted in FIGURE 1 is located at a conventional automatic winding machine or winder which is equipped with a known automatic mechanism for removal of a yarn disturbance of defect which may occur at such winding station W. As is well known to those skilled in the art this automatic mechanism possesses operable yarn finders and a knotter, such components functioning automatically. Details of the automatic mechanism have been intentionally omitted from the drawing since they are not necessary for understanding the inventive teachings and its physical structure does not form part of the inventive subject matter. It will further be seen that at the winding station W there is provided a wind-off bobbin or cop 1 from which is payed-off the thread or yarn F which then travels through an inlet eyelet 2, a standard yarn brake means 3, a yarn feeler 4 and a yarn inlet plate 5. This yarn feeler 4 can be a conventional yarn sensing element or bracket or an electronic yarn cleaner for instance. In the exemplary illustrated embodiment it is assumed to be an electronic yarn cleaner of standard construction. From the yarn inlet plate 5 the yarn F continues past a stabilization plate 6 provided with a yarn catch groove or slot 7 and the cutting element 8. From this location such yarn F moves over an inlet drum or grooved drum 9 driven by any suitable drive motor 9a and then onto the wind-up bobbin 10 to thus form a cross-wound yarn package 10a. The yarn catch groove or slot 7 is advantageously formed at the central region of the stabilization plate 6 to correspond with the central region of the wind-up bobbin 10.

By referring to FIGURES 2 and 3 which show details of the cutting or cutter unit, generally indicated by reference character C, and wherein the stabilization plate 6 is shown in phantom lines so as to expose the physical structure of the cutting element 8, mounted therebelow, it will be recognized that this cutting element 8 is pivotably mounted at a pivot pin 11 in the region or extension of the yarn catch groove 7 and at the underface of such stabilization plate 6. This pivotable cutting element 8 possesses a preferably substantially V-shaped cutter or cutting opening Sa bounded by a cutting knife edge and a curved cover piece or bracket 8b which extends in arcshaped manner with respect to the pivot pin 11. Here the cutting element 8 with the cutting knife 80 is integrally formed with the cover bracket 81) yet is conceivable that the actual cutting element and cover bracket are separate members. When this curved piece 8b is in the position depicted in FIGURE 2, it covers the yarn catch groove 7 and allows the yarn F to glide, during the normal winding operation, without resistance past this yarn catch groove 7.

An impermissible thickening or contamination of the yarn F causes the electronic yarn cleaner 4 to generate a current pulse which presses a displaceable core 12 of the electromagnet 13 against a pre-stressed leaf or blade spring 14. The use of electronic yarn cleaners or other yarn feelers for generating an impulse to actuate and electromagnet is well known to the art. For instance, such has been disclosed in my copending US. patent application, Ser. No. 277,810, filed May 3, 1963, now US. Patent No. 3,224,693 and entitled, Control Device for a Winding Machine, and for which reason the operable connection between electromagnet 13 and yarn cleaner 4 is only schematically indicated in FIGURE 2 by the line bearing reference character 20. The aforementioned pre-stressed blade spring 14 is clamped at the stabilization plate 6 between the cutting element 8 and a counter-support 15. This clamping action is specifically elfected such that the bowed portion 140: of the blade spring 14 is directed towards the core 12 and When the electrom-agnet 13 is without current i.e. in rest position, this spring presses the cutting knife or element 8 against the stop member 16.

Cutting element 8 is moved into the other terminal position to bear against the other terminal stop 16a under the action of the electromagnet 13 by exciting the latter, whereby the core 12 appropriately flexes or bends the blade spring 14 and causes cutting element 8 to be rotated in counter-clockwise direction. When this happens, the previously mentioned V-shaped cutter opening 8a is spatially positioned beneath the yarn catch groove 7, as best seen by inspecting FIGURE 3. The curved cover piece or bracket 8b consequently frees the yarn catch groove 7, the yarn F during its next ascending movement or travel falling into this yarn catch groove 7. The latter causes the yarn F to have the tendency to travel towards the central region of the grooved drum 9 and thus also towards the central region of the wind-up bobbin 19. Experience has shown that the tendency of the yarn F to align itself in this manner is also effective after cutting of the yarn, so that the now cut yarn end at the wind-up side of the wind-up bobbin comes to rest at the central region of such wind-up bobbin 10 and can be readily seized by the yarn finders which scan the surface of the aforesaid wind-up bobbin. The point of support of the blade spring 14 at the cutting element 8 in this instance must also be disposed in front of the connecting line 21 extending between pivot pin 11 and the support point or surface 15a at the counter-support 15. Consequently, this cutting element 8 is always brough back into its rest position 14 when the eleetromagnet is without current, in other words is pivoted back against the terminal stop 16 and, thus, the yarn F is cut by the cutting or knife edge 8c. It is of further signficance to mention that, depending upon the speed of travel of the yarn F, it is possible to provide a time-delay in the current circuit of the electromagnet 13.

While there is shown and described a present preferred embodiment of the invention it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and practised within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A yarn cutting apparatus for an automatic winding machine which comprises a winding station including a wind-up bobbin for winding yarn into a yarn package, said yarn cutting apparatus comprising a cutting element disposed in the neighborhood of said wind-up bobbin, a yarn feeler device cooperating with said cutting element, and a yarn catcher element comprising a closeable groove disposed in a substantially vetrical plane extending substantially through the center of said wind-up bobbin, said yarn feeler device cooperating with said yarn catcher element.

2. A yarn cutting apparatus as defined in claim 1,

wherein said yarn catcher element is normally ineffectual, further comprising actuating means responsive to operation of said yarn feeler device for rendering said yarn catcher element effectual upon the presence of a faulty yarn condition prior to operation of said cutting element for cutting the yarn.

3. Yarn cutting apparatus as defined in claim 2, whereinsaid actuating means commonly coact with said yarn catcher element and said cutting element.

4. Yarn cutting apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said actuating means comprises an electromagnet having a displaceable core, said cutting element being pivotably mounted and including a cutting knife, a blade spring for pivoting said cutting element, said displaceable core coacting with said spring.

5. Yarn cutting apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said yarn catcher element comprises a plate member provided with a yarn catch groove, a movably mounted cover bracket for said yarn catch groove.

6. Yarn cutting apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said cover bracket and said cutting element are mounted to be conjointly movable.

7. Yarn cutting apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said cover bracket and said cutting element are formed of one piece.

S. Yarn cutting apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said yarn feeler device is an electronic yarn cleaner.

9. In a winding machine, a winding station including a wind-up bobbin for winding yarn into a yarn package, a cutting element arranged in the neighborhood of said wind-up bobbin, a yarn catcher element which is normally ineffectual cooperating with said cutting element, said yarn catcher element being disposed in a vertical plane extending substantially through the central region of said wind-up bobbin, a yarn feeler device operably connected with said cutting element for actuating the same, and actuating means for said cutting element responsive to operation of said yarn feeler device for rendering said yarn catcher element effectual upon the presence of a faulty yarn condition prior to operation of said cutting element for cutting the yarn.

10. A cutter unit for winding machines comprising a plate member provided with a yarn catch groove, a cutting element pivotably mounted in the region of said yarn catch groove and movable into a first position for covering said yarn catch groove to render the latter ineffectual and into a second position freeing said yarn catch groove to allow a yarn to enter the same, said cutting element including a cutter knife means for cutting the yarn.

11. A cutter unit for winding machines comprising a plate member provided with a yarn catch groove, a cutting element pivotably mounted in. the region of said yarn catch groove and movable into a first position for covering said yarn catch groove to render the latter ineffectual and into a second position freeing said yarn catch groove to allow a yarn to enter the same, said cutting element including a cutter knife means for cutting the yarn and a curved portion for deflecting the yarn away from said yarn catch groove.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,561,126 7/1951 Lewis 28-64 2,797,053 6/1957 Furst 24219 X 2,883,732 4/1959 Parnell 28-64 3,113,368 12/1963 Hills 2864 3,269,669 8/1966 siegel 242-19 FRANK I. COHEN, Primary Examiner.

N. L. MINTZ, Assistant Examiner. 

